Cast-metal axle for vehicles.



c. G. 'F.TTB. GAST METAL AXLE FOR VEHICLES. `APPLIOATION FILED MAR.23, 1908.

' Patented May 25, 1909.

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UNITED OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIG'NOR TO ETTE INVESTMENT COMPANY,

il CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CHARLES G. ETTE,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

CAST-METAL AXLE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification oi Application led March 23, 1963.

Serial No. 422,802.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns G. E'r'rn, a citizen oll the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and uselul Improvement in Cast-Metal Axles for Vehicles, ol' which the Yl'ollowing is a lull, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, relerence being had to the accompanying drawings, l'orming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view or" my improved axle, the axle being arranged in the reverse position to that which it occupies when in operative position on a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a top plan view oi' a portion oil the axle; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ol Fig. 2; Fig. l is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ol' Fig. 2 looking in the direction ol' the arrow; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 Ol' Fig. 2 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 oi' Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view ol the outer end ol one of the tapered end portions ol` the axle; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view ol' the key that locks the wheel nut in position.

This invention relates to axles `lor vehicles.

. The main object o'l my invention is to provide a cast` metal axle that is strong and which can be produced at a low cost, said axle being preferably made ol malleable iron.

Another object o'l my invention is to proi vide a cast metal axle provided with detachable skeins having integral screw-threaded extensions which receive the nuts that hold the wheels on the skeins. object oi' my invention is to provide an axle having detachable cast metal skeins which are thickened on their lower sides to compensate l'or wear, and improved means for connecting said skeins to the axle.

Other desirable features ol my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred l'orm ol' my invention, A designates the central portion ol' my cast metal axle which is prelerably oil inverted channel shape in cross section. The central web l o'l the channel lorms the upper side of the axle and said web is provided on its inner lace with integral depending bosses 2 having openings lor receiving the 'fastening devices which connect the underframe of the vehicle And still another to the axle. On the upper side olI said web l are integral ribs 3 that embrace the underl'raine members. The central portion ol the axle is provided with cross webs d integrally connected to the bosses 2, and a longitudinally extending rib or flange 5 which is integrally connected to the bosses 2 and to the inside l'ace oi the central web l. Adjacent to the ends ol the central portion ol the axle are horizontally disposed webs 6 that are integrally connected to the lower edges o'l` the side legs or flanges ol' the channel, as shown in Fig. l. The end portions 7 ol' the axle are tapered and are ol approximately circular shape in cross section,` said end portions 7 being integrally connected to the central channel-shaped portion oi' the axle. Frei'erably, the rib or i'lange 5 on -the inside ol the axle is continued through said end portions 7,

ose o'l` strengthening same. The lower sides ol' the end portions 7 are tlattened at 7a, as shown in Fig. l, and on the inside laces ot' these llattened portions are integral strengthening ribs 8, as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, all portions ol" the axle are ol' about the same thickness so that the heat can penetrate into the metal thoroughly during the annealing operation and thus prevent the metal from cracking when it cools oil.

Shoulders 9 are -l'ormed adjacent to the inner ends ol the end portions 7 to lorm abutinents l'or the inner ends ol cast metal skeins T he inside laces oi said skeins conform to the cross sectional shape ol' the end portions 7 and consequently said skeins cannot rotate as they have liat faces which bear upon flat laces 7 a on the end portions. Each oi the skeins l0 is provided with an integral extension l l provided with external screw-threads for receiving the nut which holds the wheel on the skein, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 so that in case the portion ol the axle that projects beyond the wheel should be broken oil it will only be necessary to substitute a new skein and not an entire new axle. By providing the skein with a flat 'lace lor engaging the llat Vlace on the end portion 7 ol' the axle I produce a thickened portion on the underneath side oi' the skein which compensates l'or the excessive wear which this ory tion ol` the skein receives and thus ena les l the skein to be used for a long time.

as shown in Fig. 3, for the purl() that are mounted on said end portions. f

The outer ends oi the tapered portions 7 of the axle are closed and each ol' said portions is provided with a slot 12 for receiving a T-shaped key 13, the shank of which extends through the extension 11 on the skein and projects beyond the nut mounted on said extension. The skein holds said key in position and a cotter pin 111 passes through the shank of said key so as to lock the wheel nut in position. Each oivl the skeins 10 is looked to the tapered portion 7 of the axle on which it is mounted by means oil a bolt 15 that extends transversely through Vsaid parts, and the skein is provided with an integral lug or rib 15 which engages the head ol' vthe bolt to prevent it irom turning. A washer 17 is interposed between the skein and the nut 18 on said bolt and said washer is provided with a lip that can be bent up to engage the nut and thus lock it on the bolt.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A cast metal axle having end portions provided with flat l'aces, removable skeins mounted on said end portions and provided with cooperating flat faces which prevent said skeins from rotating, said skeins having.

end walls that butt against the extreme ends of the axle and. hollow screw-threaded extensions that project beyond the ends oi' the axle, and nut-retaining devices arranged in said hollow extensions; substantially as described.

2. A cast metal axle having a central por` tion of inverted channel shape in cross section and integral end portions, an integral rib or flange extending longitudinallythrough said central portion and end portions, and integral cross webs in said central portion 5 substantially as described.

3. A cast metal axle having a central portion of inverted channel shape in cross seotion and integral tapered end portions, skeins detachably connected to said end portions and provided with hollow screw-threaded extensions for receiving wheel nuts, said extensions extending beyond the extreme ends of the tapered end portions of the axle, removable keys carried by the end portions oi' the axle and extending through the hollow extensions ofthe skeins, and devices on said keys for locking the nuts that are mounted on said hollow extensions; substantially as described.

4. A cast metal axle having hollow end portions provided with end walls in which slots are formed, removable keys projecting through said slots and having heads that engage the inside laces oi'I said end walls, skeins connected to the axle and provided with screw threaded extensions through which said keys extend, and looking devices carried by said keys; substantially as de-v scribed.

5. A cast metal axle provided with tapered end portions that are iiattened on their lower sides, strengthening ribs on the inside faces ol' said flattened portions, and removable skeins mounted on said end portions and provided with flat laces which engage said ilattened portions and thus prevent the skeins from turning gV substantially as described.

6. A cast metal axle having a central portion which is ol inverted channel shape in cross section, integral ribs on the upper side of the axle to receive the underframe niembers of a vehicle, perforated bosses depending from the central web oi' the channel, longitudinally extending ribs and cross webs for strengthening said bosses, horizontally disposed webs connecting the lower edges of theY legs oi' the channel together, and tapered end portions formed integral with the inverted channel-shaped portion; substantially as described Y In testimony whereof l hereunto arlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this twentieth day of March 1908.

CHARLES G. ETTE.

Witnesses:

WALTER C. ltAirr-IEL, EDWARD SCHMIDDE. 

